acquaintance and yours, as I am staying in the
neighbourhood, and I, remember, I am related to the family Von Zwenken
by my mother's side."

"So much the worse for you. At the Castle relationship is a bad
recommendation."

"That I have already heard; but I am not a Roselaer, I am a Van
Zonshoven, Freule--Leopold van Zonshoven," I said, introducing myself.

"I have never heard the name before. However, as you are not a Roselaer
you perhaps stand a better chance of a kind reception. But is it
quite certain you do not come to trouble the General about business?"

"In that case I should have sent a lawyer, with orders not to
inconvenience Miss Mordaunt."

"Then you would have done wrong," she rejoined, becoming serious. "The
General is over seventy, and has had a life full of trouble; and I will
not try to conceal from you that he has many cares and difficulties
to contend with even now. It is for this reason I desire you to
tell me without reserve the object of your visit. Perhaps I can find
some means----"

"I protest to you that my greatest desire is to assist you in sparing
your grandfather all annoyance."

"The sentiment does you honour, but it leads me to doubt your
relationship, for it is contrary to all our family traditions."

"There are exceptions to every rule, as you know, and I hope to prove
myself an exception in your family traditions."

"Then you shall be welcome at the Werve also by exception, for as a
rule we admit no new faces."

"That's a pity; for I cannot think it is your wish to live in such
isolation."

"Quite my wish!" she interposed, with a certain haughtiness. "I
have had sufficient experience of mankind to make me care little for
their society."

"So young, and already such a misanthrope--afraid of the world!" I
observed.

"I am not so very young--I am turned twenty-six; and the campaign
years, as grandfather calls them, count double. You may speak to me
as though I were a woman of forty. I have quite as much experience
of life."

"Ladies talk like that when they wish to be contradicted."

"Ladies!" she cried, with ineffable contempt. "I very earnestly
request you not to include me in the category of beings commonly
denominated ladies."

"In which category must I put you? For, to tell the truth, at first
sight I did not know what to call you."

"I believe you," she said, with a little laugh; "for to any one who
does not know me I must appear very odd. But, tell me, what di